I love the atmosphere of this place. Its a small, open hut that has a laid back nature-y vibe and its very relaxing. I ordered the salad bowl with vermicelli noodles and chicken (A.K.A their version of a rice noodle bowl) and it was pretty good. The only thing I didnt like was the egg roll because it was a bit dry and Im not sure if it was made fresh or if I got one that had been bulk-fried with previous orders. Other than that my meal was enjoyable and they were very generous with the chicken. I also ordered a rouge sake sangria and it was very refreshing since it was a pretty warm day.
East Borough is a cute lil Vietnamese restaurant that offers Bahn Mi Sandwiches and Rice bowls with an American fusion. They are located in The Camp plaza of Costa Mesa, OC.I came to grab a lunch. Their outdoor was very chill as well as their indoor. However, both have limited seating! I was perfunctorily greeted by a cute female staff. I perused their menus and decided to get a Chicken rice bowl (bokchoy, a hard boiled egg, jasmine rice and citrus vinaigrette) and Jasmine Like Green Tea.Food taste good and flavorful. Drink was refreshing and citrus. Service was on point. Staff were professional. Prices were modest and affordable. Free Wifi. Atmosphere was relaxing. Overall, I recommend this spot.
This is one of my favorite places to grab a great bit of food. I really like the Beef Stew Baguette. Its great to share or just a meal on its own.The Jasmine Lime Ice Tea is very refreshing or you can indulge from a great selection of beers and wines! Highly recommend giving this place a try, I have always enjoyed anything from the menu!
Curry soup with chicken and rice noodles was delicious. The spice wasnt overwhelming, more like a nice kick.Clean place, they bring you the food on a tray and clean tables well between clients.Bathroom was clean and maintained.
East Borough is nestled in the Camp mall which is a worthwhile tourist attraction by itself.I came here because the online posts showed the bhan mi was $9. Wound up being $14 plus tip, so I think Ill head back to my hole in the wall mom n pop Vietnamese spot.That being said, their bhan mi is a massive footlong sandwich with fresh crusty bread, veggies that taste like they were all picked one minute ago, and the aioli and pork absolutely melts in your mouth and brings the whole thing together. Taste is 10 out of 10, but I think theres better price/value elsewhere.
Its been a very long time since Ive revisited. I was in the area to get a tire rotation and wanted to grab lunch while I waited. The service was going to take roughly 30-45 minutes, so why not start the year with a brisk walk. Plus, it beat the hassle of looking for parking in that lot!After a short stroll, there were only a few places opened before 11am when I arrived, but East Borough caught my eye considering it was the first shop I saw when I entered the plaza. After a quick walk through, I chose to stop in and grab a sandwich. I wanted something quick at first, but then I decided to place another order to bring home to the boyfriend, which happened by two transactions haha.First and second order was pork banh mi. Once bf confirmed, I went on to Yelp and found that they had a check in offer for $2 specialty drinks. The options were Jasmine Lime Ice Tea (similar to an Arnold Palmer as its mixed with a sort of lemonade), Oloong Tea (unsweetened) and Vietnamese Iced Coffee. I originally wanted to try the Jasmine, but the drinks are pre-made and not adjustable by sweetness. I was a bit hesitant about it, so I opted for the Vietnamese coffee (originally $4.50). It probably has way more sugar out of all the drinks, but at least I can dilute it for the next few days since its such a strong beverage for someone whos sensitive to caffeineThe pork banh mi is prepared with all the toppings: pickled radish/carrot, cucumber, cilantro and jalapeño all inclusive. The jalapeños were not too spicy and the pickled vegetables were an equal balance of crunch and pickled flavoring. I love their baguettes since theyre not the type to cut sh*t up in your mouth, while maintaining a good crust + fluffy interior.Quality feels the same from when they first opened and the menu, to me, has expanded from what I remembered. They now have brunch and other unique items - dip sandwiches, rice bowls, salads, spring rolls.Now that I think about it, I prob should have gotten two different protein options, but I was playing it safe! Next time, Ill have to try their other protein options - shrimp (cajun coconut milk), tofu (braised black sesame?!) and braised pork belly. Hopefully before my next tire rotation appointment!
Best banh mi in OC. Not sure how they do it but the pork banh mi is so good, especially if paired with their jasmine lime iced tea! Definitely a must if you are in town
Delicious bahn mi burger! And their customer service was incredible. Definitely worth it. We will come back for sure!
Staff is super friendly and the food is amazing. The Banh mi is amazing. Guve them a try and support your local small business community.
All I had was the Vietnamese Coffee and it was very Tasty and Strong. Friendly Staff and Cool atmosphere 😎
I’ve been coming here for quite some time and it never disappoints. The pho baguette could be one of my favorite sandwiches of all time. Beef stew is full of flavor and they have a great selection of beers and natural wine as well. Staff is always helpful and friendly. Highly recommend!!
Everything Ive gotten here has been amazing (every sandwich, the citrus salad, the curry rice bowl, the burger on a friday night). They also have a good beer selection
The banh mi sandwiches and vermicelli are delicious 😋 One thing I wish is that it wasnt ground beef.
I love the grapefruit salad with chicken and the chia seed pudding is so amazing!!! This is my favorite place!!!
The banh mi here is soooooo good. I drive to OC from Oceanside just to come to this spot. They have my favorite olipops and sake! The sake in a juice box is so yum and cute. Try the egg rolls, papaya salad, and chili mango on the side with your banh mi, you won’t be disappointed.Customer service is top notch!
Just wanna give some constructive feedback. The food was extremely salty, and had no other flavor aside from salt.
I love this place! The food here always hits the spot. My go to is the chicken curry soup and bokchoy. So delicious. Also the jasmine tea is really nice too.
Pho baguette 👌🏼 grapefruit salad 👌🏼👌🏼 consistent and very good quality. Rare.
Had the Banh Mi Vietnamese sandwich A+++ Incredible!! Wonderful customer service as well!
This place is one of my favorite places to eat in Costa Mesa. The team is always so friendly and the food is spectacular!
The porridge was too spicy for my taste but the coffee was delicious, and the banh mi was ok .
5 hrs later and Im still burping up the flavor of the vermicelli bowl and have what Im sure is food poisoning since I have chills, dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating, bloating, horrible burping and stomach pain.My protein was too greasy (seemed like it was the last bits of the day) and my greens didnt taste fresh. We were disappointed since our first time the food was fresh, flavorful, nicely cooked and easy to digest (husband got the bành mí and also got sick) Always a bummer when a place with lots of potential has no consistency. Will not return.
This is one of my top go to places for lunch, great service, and the food some how seems to get even more delicious each time I go! The curry baguette and beef stew baguette are my favorite sandwiches
The beef stew baguette is AMAZING! Although I am Pescatarian...in the beginning I changed the protein to Tofu, but watch out, they do stew the veggies in beef broth...so I had to stop ordering it when I found out. 🤦♀️They do offer other dishes which my family loves to order, like the Grapefruit Salad with or without protein, the eggs rolls, veggie or meat.Either way, it’s worth a try!
Great food. The beef, French dipped, sandwich is incredible. Loved their Vietnamese coffee too.
I visited East Borough on Friday evening because Im a huge fan of Bahn Mi sandwiches. I had read that the food here is really delicious and even though the name might sound more like a deli, I assure you that this place is pure Vietnamese goodness! I took my mom with me as she also enjoys clean, light, fresh tasting dishes. She ordered the lemon grass chicken with the vermicelli noodles salad and of course I choose the chicken Bahn Mi. Both dishes were fantastic! The salad, which I sampled, was crisp with red cabbage, mint and vermicelli noodles. And the lemon grass chicken was marinated perfectly. My Bahn Mi was wonderfuly warm with loads of chicken, daikon, carrots, and cilantro. Definitely, they did not skimp out on making a robust, delicious sandwich. I also ordered one of the Vietnamese iced coffees. Sooooo good!! Not overly sweet, but just enough of balance between the coffee and a rather smooth chocolatey finish. The whole meal was awesome and very filling. Do be aware that the Camp has a bit of a parking challenge as there is a premium on parking spots. So do try to go in a non peak lunch hour. Also, in case youre hoping to sit inside, East Borough is a patio style dinning set up. So, if you visit in the evening make sure you take that into consideration and dress appropriately. Enjoy!! 😄👍
Pickled mango and kale bowl with chicken exceeded my expectations, it was delightful. Healthy and fresh food served by pleasant people set in an outdoor setting with plants surrounding. Stoked that I was able to drop in effortlessly and enjoy healthy food at a very reasonable price. Ill make it a point to return next time Im in the area.
I love this spot! They have great salads, rice bowls, vermicelli, spring rolls, and banh mi! Im sure everything else is delicious, but being that I dont eat meat these are pretty much the only things Ive tried which is basically most of their menu LOL! Their ingredients are very fresh and everything is very flavorful! They make something for everyone vegan, vegetarian, omnivores, and carnivores. I especially enjoy their shrimp banh mi sandwich. I also really like their chia lychee dessert its the bomb dot com!I have had nothing but good experiences at this place. Tonight is a great example my husband and I went to pick our my rice bowl, banh mi sandwich, and spring rolls. Before they gave us our order the gentleman checked it and realized that there were no egg rolls with the rice bowl because it was nearly closing time and they were out for the night. He offered to compensate and we asked for the veggie spring rolls he also brought us out two of the jasmine tea lemonades. I was very impressed with this because many places dont catch their own mistakes or even bother to check. The fact that he checked without us having to get home and be frustrated about it then compensated accordingly is definitely a plus in my book.The ambiance of this spot is also very chill. Its great for spring and summer dining, but lets be real being that we live in southern California its good to eat here anytime (they have heaters on the patio for when its chilly out also). I love the babbling sound of the water feature and that its open air seating.
Pork Belly Bahn Mi is my favorite! The service is great and the covered outdoor seating is refreshing. Keep an eye our for the cute white dog that owns the place. All of their menu items are great; from the Spring rolls to the vermicelli bowls. Stop by for Happy hour too! cause they got drank here. Not the purple kind.
Very rude. We were just looking for an Asian Restaurant and was happy to find one. After we checked their menu I saw gelato sign next door and checked their dessert menu out as well. We were trying to figure out what to order the guy came in and literally kicked us out for checking other store’s menu. We knew the table we sit does not belong to the Italian store. It was just his attitude. Anyway we just left without ordering anything.
This place was recommended to me after I posted a question about banh mi sandwiches served with pho for dipping. Wow, they did not disappoint! Well worth the trip.
I loved the rice bowl and the pork spring rolls with peanut sauce. My friend had the Bahn Mi with Pho dip. We were both pleased and will definitely go back!
LOVE LOVE LOVE it here. My go-to place for a quick lunch. Good for a lunch by yourself or with a small group. Limited seating but if you wait 5 or so minutes youll easily get a table. Tofu Bahn Mi is to die for.
The pork bahn mi was delicious! However, if you dont like spicy food you may want to ask for the jalapeños to be removed. Also, I highly recommend the red sake sangria.
Banh mi is just too good. Very fresh.
This place does amazing upscale Vietnamese street food. The banh mi are great, the vermicelli bowls are awesome. My personally favorites are the Bo Kho stew and the Pho Banh Mi (think Vietnamese french dip). Definitely not to be trifled with.
Always love this place for its vermicelli bowl! Yum! My fam loved the stew. And a cute little place to dine in also in the Camp.
Grabbed sandwiches and enjoyed at one of the Camp Breweries. Absolutely delicious Bahn Mi and Pho Dip with a side of incredible and friendly service
Took my friends here for their birthdays because it’s my FAVORITE! Everyone loved what they ordered and they even came to deliver it to us at the wine lab next door. John was so kind and helpful and I will definitely be back time and time again! Thanks East Borough!!!
Good food, great bloody mary
One of our favorite places. We love the meatball sandwich. Wish I could replicate the meatballs and sauce at home. Also love the jasmine lime iced tea, spring rolls, and papaya salad.
Super banh mi and chicken curry soup baguette. 10/10 would recommend
Very cozy and cute location.However, no sign in front of the restaurant. Had a hard time to find the spot.Food is great, big portion, reasonable price.
Authentic Bành mì! It’s also worth trying the Phò Baguette. So tasty!
Perfectly picked veggies were balanced by the not too fatty pork for a delicious banh mi. Fun, thoughtful beer selection to boot!
I spoke to Alex on the phone to get a lunch ordered for a staff of 23, and he was so helpful! I know the office loves this place and everyone was excited were going to have this for lunch!
Love it.Also love the East Burger on Friday and Saturday.
If I had all the money in the world I will pay the chef to be my personal chef. The food is magnificent.
I ordered 2 iced teas and ended up waiting over 15 minutes for them to make it? Its pouring liquid into a cup, peoples food came out faster!
Always tasty and fresh, with a set of items and flavors thats hard to get anywhere else. The stew is amazing.
Ive eaten here X times (too many times to mention :) Cant go wrong here for a cheap, quick and great meal!!
Second time there during Covid, we had great expectations. It wasnt anything like the first time. Very expensive for what we got.
Incredible! The spring rolls were delicious, and so was the sangria!
Consistently great, healthy lunch spot. cool vibe and nice staff.
Outstanding French dip style sandwiches in a cute marketplace thats worth the trip alone
Great food, I recommend the banh mi or vermicelli noodles with chicken.
Our favorite place to get a quick meal. The banh mis are solid
Bahn mi in a beautiful little Oasis with great service and beer selection. A Viet Nam Valhalla
Love their vermicelli and sandwiches. Nice cute place with good service.
The pork bahn mi and sake sangria were phenomenal.
I love the vermicelli bowl and Jasmine lime iced tea!
Maybe I should have ordered something else? My shrimp rice bowl was just okay.
Fresh food. Acceptable pricing. Not authentic for sure.
In my experience is one of the best Vietnamese restaurant in town.
Amazing Vietnamese Fusion dishes - the Pho baguette was out of this world
Damn Im in Saigon LOL
Great banh mi and other Vietnamese inspired dishes
Awesomeness wrapped in bread and dipped in Pho broth!!
Portland street style food with great sauces!
The pork belly bowl is really good.
Rude x 4 visits! = I’m out!
Bahm Mi sandwich is great!
Surprisingly yummy foodSoo hipster.....
The Vietnamese sandwiches here are great
Best place to eat in the camp.
Had bahn mi, it was excellent
Delicious spring rolls!
Love it
Wow wow 10/10 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Great food
The spring rolls and banh mi are delicious. The prices are reasonable and you can relax.
Total reviews rating 4.6
91 Reviews for East Borough 2024:
Review №1
2023-05-22 22:22:09Really nice friendly staff and atmosphere! They sell half gallon of the jasmine lime ice tea to take home. Definitely recommend it.They have many gluten friendly Vietnamese dishes.
Review №2
2023-09-15 15:16:15My beef vermicelli was really good, the portion was big. It’s missing the authentic flavor but still very good. I would come back here again.
Review №3
2023-10-07 19:19:12Loved this place near OC airport. Great, modern cluster of shops and eateries. This food was outstanding. All homemade ingredients including the fish sauces, etc. Vegetarian options also.
Review №4
2023-08-14 20:47:52Food is great! I have eaten here several times and everything has been great. I try to stop by to get food when Im in the area. Photo is of chicken curry.
Review №5
2023-04-08 16:05:43Usually come here for the curry, but I wanted to try their burger pop up! Currently, on Friday/Saturday evenings, they serve juicy smash burgers. I got their animal fries + banh mi burger and was impressed! The only drawback was that the largely cut veggies in the burger made it hard to enjoy “in” the burger. I just hope they were open more often for dinner!
Review №6
2022-09-09 20:05:37The bread tastes a little more buttery but thats not a complaint at all. Flavors & texture were exactly what I was looking for on a hot day: cool, light, crunchy, tangy with a bit of heat. The size of the pickled daikon & carrots dont complement the tofu well, but I imagine they pair better with sturdier proteins. Service was quick & friendly. Three tables inside with plentiful outdoor seating. Clean bathroom can be found inside. My go-to banh mi place in the area. For $10 tofu banh mi, not so bad!
Review №7
2023-08-29 09:00:27I love their vermicelli noodle salads. Food is always fresh and tasty and service is quick and friendly.
Review №8
2022-07-24 22:35:39The outside dining area was great on a nice, sunny, and breezy Sunday. That was the highlight of this experience. The food however, would do wonders with more improvement. I ordered the Bo Kho (Vietnamese beef stew) with noodles. The broth tasted good after a couple sips but it is just too rich and thick for my tastes, if it was soupier and lighter it could’ve been perfect. The vermicelli noodles with beef was okay. The taste lacked so we needed extra chili sauce and nuoc mam (Vietnamese fish sauce).Server was friendly and it was a nice ambience. Even though I felt a stomachache after eating, I would give this place another chance to see if my impression changes. I think Americans/foreigners that aren’t familiar with Vietnamese food would like/love it, but me being Vietnamese, my expectations are high for our cuisine.
Review №9
2023-01-30 22:41:32So unique and tasted so amazing. wanted to take some home. can make most things vegan, big plus. so much flavor. the employees were super knowledgeable about the menu. made it so easy to order. water was chilled which i love, didn’t need ice. outside seating was warm with heaters.
Review №10
2023-01-14 22:38:36This place is usually amazing. But we just ordered two pork belly Bahn mi sandwiches and there was literally no meat on them. It was just full of fat. The aoli was thickly applied as well. Not typical of this place. Very very disappointed, especially for the price you pay. We have eaten here so many times. Not sure if they got new cooks or what. But very very sloppy.